John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 6:3

"giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed;" — 2 Corinthians 6:3 (ASV)

Giving no offense. We have already remarked on several occasions that Paul sometimes commends the ministry of the gospel generally, and at other times his own integrity. In the present instance, then, he speaks of himself and sets before us, in his own person, a living picture of a good and faithful apostle, so that the Corinthians may be led to see how unfair they were in their judgment in preferring empty blusterers over him.

For as they assigned praise to mere pretenses, they held in the highest esteem persons who were effeminate and devoid of zeal, while, on the other hand, concerning the best ministers, they cherished no views but such as were mean and abject. Nor is there any reason to doubt that those very things Paul mentions for his own commendation had been brought forward by them partly as a ground of contempt. And they were all the more deserving of reproof, inasmuch as they converted into a matter of reproach what was a basis for just praise.

Paul, therefore, discusses here three things:

1. First, he shows what excellences are the basis on which preachers of the gospel ought to be esteemed.
2. Secondly, he shows that he himself is endowed with those excellences.
3. Thirdly, he admonishes the Corinthians not to acknowledge as Christ’s servants those who conduct themselves differently than he prescribes here by his example.

His design is to procure authority for himself and those who were like him—for the glory of God and the good of the Church—or to restore it where it has fallen into decay. And secondly, it is to call back the Corinthians from an unreasonable attachment to the false apostles, which was a hindrance to them making as much progress in the gospel as was necessary.

Ministers cause stumbling when, by their own misconduct, they hinder the progress of the gospel among their hearers. That Paul says he does not do; for he declares that he carefully takes heed not to stain his apostleship with any spot of disgrace.

For this is Satan's artifice: to seek some misconduct in ministers that may lead to the dishonor of the gospel. For when he has succeeded in bringing the ministry into contempt, all hope of profit is at an end. Therefore, the man who wishes to serve Christ effectively must strive with all his might to maintain the credit of his ministry. The method is to take care that he is deserving of honor, for nothing is more ridiculous than striving to maintain your reputation before others while you bring reproach upon yourself by a wicked and base life. That man, therefore, alone will be honorable who allows himself nothing unworthy of a minister of Christ.